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Video: Leveraging Magnets for Robot Flexibility

Magnetic tooling for robotic arms can be a useful alternative to end-effectors such as vacuum cups and pneumatic grippers. Unlike these devices, magnets need not rely on a constant stream of electricity for holding power. Other benefits of magnets include their lack of moving parts and flexibility to accommodate different types of workpieces.

DocMagnet’s Pick and Place (PNP) magnetic end-effectors, for example, use electricity only to switch the magnet on and off for reliability in the event that power is interrupted. The lack of moving parts helps the system last longer with little to no maintenance, and flexibility for various operations is possible. The video above shows the PNP system used on an LR Mate 200iC robotic arm from FANUC. As demonstrated in the video, the end-effectors can lift both round bar and flat workpieces interchangeably with ease.

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